all roads lead
in sunday with one boot
I depart with spoon and fork
tied to the chains of slow food
rome is 7 hills of pasta on a plate
cannelloni
tagliatelle
ravioli
penne
fettucini
lasagna
rigatoni
7 hills of pasta
spilled with blue cheese and blood
with fountains bolognese
with pesto aqueducts
with oily rivers
with mozzarella squares
with parmesan buildings
with garlic statues
with ancient forum of prosciutto
with asparagus columns
with tomato colisseum
with spanish steps of ham
with olive domes
of bacon cathedrals
rukola rikota and ragu
with the vatican hallucinogenic venomous radioactive mushroom in the center of rome pasta tentacles crawl the streets of the city I walk the squares the columns and the buildings saint peter the temple of minerva the senate the forum and the pantheon and stick all the cardinals like capers on the top of my fork then I crunch loudly all the christian army I chew bishops fathers popesses popes antichrists and with a mouth of truth full of pasta I whisper this is philosophy of nutrition drink wine write bibles and when there are no bread and circuses eat rome

About the Author

Yassen Vassilev

Yassen Vasilev  is a young Bulgarian poet. He is currently studying Dramaturgy at the National Academy of Theater and Film Art “Krastio Sarafov”, Sofia, Bulgaria. In May 2009 he published his first collection of poems called “Blind Infinity Hangs”, which had won the National Prize for Literature of Hermes Books – one of the biggest Publishing houses in Bulgaria. He had published poems, prose and articles in most of the prestigious Bulgarian literature magazines and newspapers, both printed and online. He had also won several National awards for poetry and prose. Together with Mina Stoyanova – he is co-author of three performances based on their poetry – “Delusions” (2007), “When the Clocks are Melting” (2008) and “Dirtify/WarX” (2009). Personal website: www.yassenvasilev.wordpress.com